Hair retainer or comb



Sept. 11, 1928. L. T. sAwYER HAIR RETAINER OR COMB Filed July 24, 1926 Inivenzfon Patented Sept. 11, 1928.

UNITED STATES LESTER THOBNDIKE SAWYER, OF FITCI-IBURG, MASSACHUSETTS.

, Ham RETAINER on come.

Application filed July 24,

This invention relates to a comb or retainer designed to be worn in the hair. It is the object of the invention to rov1de aconstruction for such articles w ich will.

6 permit the comb or retainer to be easily Inserted in the hair and to be securely held from displacement therein.

- A further object of the invention'isto provide a device of this character in wh 1ch 10 no loose or additional parts such as pins, latches, or clasps are required to hold the device in position.

With these general objects in view, an important feature of the invention relates 1 to'the provision of a comb-like structure having relatively small teeth so constructed that portions thereof will yield laterally to firmly grip and hold a strand of hair in serted between adjacent teeth. A

A preferred form of the invention and certain modifications thereof are shown in the drawings and will be more specifically set forth in the a pended claims.-

Referring to e drawings Fig. '1 is a front elevation of one form of m invention; a

ig. 2 is a sectional end view, taken along the hne 22 in Fig. 1;

Fi 3 is a partial front elevation, showing the device in use; and,

ig. 4 is a similar view of amodificatlon.

Referring particularly to Figs, 1 to 3, I

have shown my improved comb or hair retainer as comprising a supporting portion or back, having a plurality of relatively small teeth 11 projecting therefrom. As shown in Fig.- 1, the teeth 11 are provided with relatively large elongated central I openings 12, each extending throughout a 40 major portion of the length of a tooth.

These openings 12 may be formd by slitting the teeth and bending the side portions outward or they may be formed by punching the openings in suitably shaped teeth. In any event, the side walls 13 of the teeth are relatively thin and quite resilient.

When in normal position, the side walls 13 of adjacent teeth are substantially in engagement with each other but when the device is inserted in the hair, the side walls 13 yield readily, causing the teeth to as- 1926. Serial No. 124,659.

sume a flattened appearance as shown in Fig. 3, and firmly gripping and retaining the hair H between the ad acent sidewalls. The end portions or oints 15 of the teeth are closed and smoot 1y finished, like the teeth of an ordinary comb. Special end teeth 16 may also be usedto provide a more finished ai-ppearance at the ends of the comb if desire While the comb may be made of any suitable material, I have. found that pyroxylin or other similar, resilient sheet material is well fitted for use in my improved retainer.

It will be noted while the device is peculiarly adapted and very: effective for the purpose designed, it nevertheless closely. resembles an ordinar comb and cannot be distinguished thereiiom when in position on the head of the wearer.

In Fig. 4, I: have indicated a modification in which the teeth 25 are each formed of a single piece of wire; bent to provide a closed point and a central opening, and having the ends inserted into a back portion 26. This form of the device is very similar in its operation and advantages to the form shown in Fig. 1.

Having thus described my invention and the advantages thereof, I do not wish to be limited to the details herein disclosed otherwise than as set forth in the claims, 1

but what I claim is:

1. A hair retainer comprising an elongated back, and a plurality of relatively small teeth mounted closely adjacent thereon, all of said teeth having closed smooth points and certain of said teeth hav-' ing relatively large elongated o enings throughout the major portion 0 their length and having relativel thin resilient side portions, the sides of a jacent teeth being normally in substantial engagement with each other, and said resilient side portions being yieldable to permit insertion of hair between said teeth and to grip and retain the hair thus inserted.

2. A hair retainer comprising an elonpoints and certain of said teeth having relnormally curved outwardly to effect such atively large elongated openings throughengagement, but being flattened when in out the major "ortion of their length and strand of hair is inserted between said 10 having relatively thin resilient side por teeth and yieldingly engaging and retain- 5 tions, the sides of adjacent teeth being noring a strand of hair thus inserted.

mally in substantial engagement with each other, and said resilient side portions being LESTER THORNDIKE SAWYER, 

